My favorite thing about Dancing Dreams is the fact that it’s a program that provides an outlet for dancers of all ages and levels to connect with other dancers that may have a physical challenge...it’s just a beautiful experience.

I honestly can’t believe that I can do this. I just love dance. When I dance I feel like I can do anything.

I feel really beautiful when I am dancing

What I’ve learned from Dancing Dreams is that it’s okay to embrace your differences and to be exposed to other types of people that are just different and who have different personalities and needs.

My favorite thing about Dancing Dreams is that it gives me an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and meet new people and experience new things.

All kids in the class, regardless of ability, are able to do the dances that we do in a way that works for them. And everyone has fun.

For that entire 45 minutes, every time it ends I always wish it could go on a little bit longer.

Who Are We?

to provide dance classes and performance opportunities for children ages 3-21 with medical or physical challenges

to enhance leadership skills and self esteem of teens ages 13-18

to provide community outreach and education in the area of disability awareness and tolerance

Classes are held weekly in our three locations. They are designed to allow our dancers to experience the joy of dance regardless of their physical ability.
The year ends with an Annual Performance, an onstage celebration of the achievements of our students.

Teen volunteer "Helpers" are enrolled in the Dancing Dreams Leadership Program. Helpers attend workshops to enhance leadership skills and are paired with a dancer whom they assist at weekly classes and performances.

Through community outreach, especially to elementary school children, we aim to increase awareness of and tolerance for those with physical challenges.

Kathleen Downes

Kathleen Downes, Dancing Dreams alumnus and 2015 graduate of the University of Illinois, performed a solo dance at our performance to her original essay, “Thursday’s Dreamers.”

As a young woman born with severe cerebral palsy, I never would have guessed that dancing was in the cards for me. However, joining this great group of people was instantly captivating and soon, I embraced the arts in a new capacity ordinarily assumed to be reserved for my non-disabled peers… Most of us have never walked a step, but every Thursday, we dance, learning about expression beyond a pre-conceived notion of “the perfect body."

Veronica Siaba

Veronica Siaba, Dancing Dreams dancer from age 4 to 17 years, Dancing Dreams alumna, and second-year student at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania

Growing up with cerebral palsy, I was the only physically challenged person in my family and
community. Dancing Dreams made me see that there were lots of other kids like me...It was an important
moment when I understood that physical and medical challenges are something that affect a large number of
people. While some challenges may not be as visible as mine, it is all around us and it is something that is not
unique to my experience. I am forever grateful to Dancing Dreams for providing me with these feelings of
friendship, freedom, belonging, and confidence. Not only did Dancing Dreams make me believe in myself and
my abilities, but it encouraged others to see beyond my wheelchair and to recognize that I am a ballerina and a
dancer.